A weekend of investment into the brilliant young writers of the Greater Baltimore area.
Baltimore, MD – April 23 – 25, 2026 – DewMore Baltimore, a youth program under the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts & Entertainment District today announced it will host The 2026 Youth Poetry Festival from April 23 – 26, 2026. Over the course of 3 days, hundreds of young writers from Baltimore City and Baltimore County will gather to create, share, and build. This festival will be a premier spring event for young Baltimorean writers to develop their inner poet and compete to become the next Baltimore Youth Poet Laureate.
April 23, the top youth poets from Baltimore City compete in the finals to become the next Baltimore Youth Poet Laureate! DewMore Baltimore and the Mayor’s Office of Baltimore will select the 2026-2027 Baltimore Youth Poet Laureate and Baltimore Youth Poet ambassadors.
April 24, will be a full day of free poetry workshops, open mics, and poetry slams facilitated by the country’s leading poets, including Lady Brion, Maryland’s Poet Laureate, number one ranked slam poet in the country, Black Chakra and Rudy Fancisco, as seen on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon! These workshops are designed to teach young writers about poetic devices, writing in groups and how to perform in front of an audience. There will be great food and lots of fun to keep everyone engaged and nourished. The poetry slam contestants will be divided between high school and college. 1st place winners will receive $500, 2nd place $300 and 3rd place $200.
April 25, DewMore poetry will host a free open mic to encourage young people to step out of their shell and onto the stage and let their words be heard! The Baltimore City Youth Poetry Team will also be performing.
This beautiful weekend full of investment into the youth will take place at Baltimore City Hall, Community College of Baltimore County and the beloved Red Emma’s.
If you would like more information about sponsorship opportunities or how your young person can get involved in this event, please email Kenneth@blackartsdistrict.org.
Event Details:
What: Baltimore Youth Poet Laureate Showcase
When: April 23, 2026 | 6:00 PM
Where: Baltimore City Hall (100 Holliday Street)
What: Youth Poetry Festival: Cross Pollination
When: April 24, 2026 | 9:00 am – 3:30 PM
Where: Community College of Baltimore County, (7201 Rossville Blvd, Baltimore, MD, Building: Admin 120)
What: Youth Open Mic
When: April 25, 2026 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Where: Red Emmas (3128 Greenmount Avenue, Baltimore, MD)
About the Black Arts District
The Black Arts District is dedicated to leveraging the arts as a vehicle for economic development, cultural preservation, and community empowerment in Baltimore. Through year-round programming, the District nurtures Black creatives, uplifts local culture, and builds bridges between community and opportunity.